Eaton County Substance Abuse Advisory Group

September 21, 2009 News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: SAMHSA Press Office 240-276-2130

September 21, 2009 www.samhsa.gov

Nationwide Public Health Alert Issued Concerning Life-Threatening Risk Posed by Cocaine Laced with Veterinary Anti-Parasite Drug

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is alerting medical professionals, substance abuse treatment centers and other public health authorities about the risk that substantial levels of cocaine may be adulterated with levamisole – a veterinary anti-parasitic drug. There have been approximately 20 confirmed or probable cases of agranulocytosis (a serious, sometimes fatal blood disorder), including two deaths, associated with cocaine adulterated with levamisole. The number of reported cases is expected to increase as information about cocaine adulterated with levamisole is disseminated.

“SAMHSA and other public health authorities are working together to inform everyone of this serious potential public health risk and what measures are being taken to address it,” said SAMHSA Acting Administrator Eric Broderick, D.D.S., MPH.

Levamisole is used in veterinary medicine and is currently approved for use in cattle, sheep and swine as an anti-parasitic agent. Although it was once used in human medicine in the past for treating autoimmune diseases and cancer, it is no longer an approved drug for human use.

Ingesting cocaine mixed with levamisole can seriously reduce a person's white blood cells, suppressing immune function and the body's ability to fight off even minor infections. People who snort, smoke, or inject crack or powder cocaine contaminated by levamisole can experience overwhelming, rapidly-developing, life threatening infections. Other serious side effects can also occur.

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration and State testing laboratories, the percentage of cocaine specimens containing levamisole has increased steadily since 2002, with levamisole now found in over 70 percent of the illicit cocaine analyzed in July. In addition, a recent analysis in Seattle, Washington found that almost 80 percent of the individuals who test positive for cocaine also test positive for levamisole.

According to the SAMHSA alert substance abuse treatment providers, clinicians, outreach workers, and individuals who abuse cocaine need to be aware of the following:

A dangerous substance, levamisole, is showing up with increasing frequency in illicit cocaine powder and crack cocaine. Levamisole can severely reduce the number of white blood cells, a problem called agranulocytosis. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ILLNESS THAT NEEDS TO BE TREATED AT A HOSPITAL. If you use cocaine, watch out for:

* high fever, chills, or weakness
* swollen glands
* painful sores (mouth, anal)
* any infection that won’t go away or gets worse very fast, including sore throat or mouth sores -skin infections, abscesses -thrush (white coating of the mouth, tongue, or throat) -pneumonia (fever, cough, shortness of breath).”

SAMHSA is working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Food and Drug Administration, the Office of National Drug Control Policy, and other federal and international organizations, as well as state agencies to monitor the levamisole issue. CDC will be publishing a case report analysis in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) and will be working with state health departments to systematically collect information on cocaine-associated agranulocytosis cases. Information from this effort will be used to guide treatment and prevention initiatives to address this public health concern.

Individuals are encouraged to report suspected and confirmed cases of agranulocytosis that are associated with cocaine abuse to their respective state health departments. Cases can also be reported to local Poison Control Centers (1-800-222-1222), these centers may also provide assistance in clinical management and additional reporting.

For further medical/technical information, contact Nicholas Reuter, SAMHSA (Nicholas.reuter@samhsa.hhs.gov).

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SAMHSA is a public health agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The agency is responsible for improving the accountability, capacity and effectiveness of the nation’s substance abuse prevention, addictions treatment and mental health services delivery system.

June 25, 2009 News Release

There’s a four letter word that is a curse all its own. It is spelled M-E-T-H, a menace that can destroy individuals, relationships, families, and communities.

Methamphetamine or meth, also goes by the street names crank, chalk, crystal, ice and glass. It has a nasty habit of hurting those who use it, and leads to hallucinations, paranoia, body sores, the breakdown of teeth and muscle, and brain damage.

Meth is extremely addictive. It causes chemical reactions in the brain that trick the body into believing it has unlimited energy supplies and drain energy needed for other parts of the body. This causes meth addicts to stay awake for long periods of time until they crash from exhaustion.

It doesn’t stop there. Once a person is hooked, their sense of responsibility takes a hit, too. You’ve read the horror stories about the crimes related to meth. It affects families, children and loved ones. Unfortunately children are often those most at risk when there’s a meth user or maker in the home or neighborhood. They often become neglected and abused.

While most of the methamphetamine in Eaton County is currently produced in large laboratories outside of the U.S. and brought into the county by drug dealers, meth can be easily made in small, hidden, household labs with inexpensive over-the-counter ingredients.

Most people addicted to meth enter treatment because of felony criminal charges for manufacturing or distributing meth. The legal sanctions can be severe. Treatment for them is often mandatory through Eaton County Circuit Court.

According to Dr. Jack Jesse, Director of Eaton County Substance Abuse Program (ESAP), successful meth treatment requires a longer period of time than traditional therapies. Besides the use of cognitive-behavioral therapy, meth users can benefit from physical, emotional and spiritual support to regain their balance and become healthy. A holistic treatment approach helps better prepare the meth addict for a life-long recovery.

As part of a holistic treatment plan, clients receiving treatment at ESAP have benefitted from participating in a 12-week Life Balance acupuncture group. “People often need something unique to help them overcome the process and power of using and manufacturing such a powerful drug” Dr. Jesse says. The experience of being in the acupuncture group can help people in recovery overcome the hurdles and challenges of sustaining recovery over time. Although recovering from meth addiction is challenging, it is not impossible. For meth treatment to be successful, it must meet the demands of meth addiction.

There is help available in Eaton County for anyone wanting to kick the meth habit or for someone who cares about a meth user and wants to see them get help. Eaton County Substance Abuse Program (ESAP) can offer help from the first phone contact. For more information, contact an ESAP Counselor at 517-543-2580. You can also call 211 to connect you with a range of substance abuse and other services. If you are interested in working on the prevention of meth and other drugs in our community, contact the Eaton County Substance Abuse Advisory Group (ECSSAG) at 541-8939 or www.eatondrugfree.org.

Contact: Polly Brainerd, Prevention Specialist
Eaton Intermediate School District
Tel. (517) 541-8939
pbrainerd@eatonisd.org